SPQR II The Catiline Conspiracy

Roberts’s historical mystery, set amid the Roman Empire, fascinates with its vivid imagery and wit. Murder, mayhem, and wild debauchery surround sleuth Decius Caecilius Metellus the Younger as he investigates several murders. Decius navigates Rome's banquets, theatrical effects, and seedy urban underbelly, while treasonous bids for power veil the more significant clues. He uncovers a cache of weapons hidden in the temple of Saturn and a plot to overthrow Rome's government. Simon Vance adeptly pronounces the Latin names, titles, and terms, and infuses the characters with memorable vocal attributes—accents, age differences, irony, and compelling emphasis. He employs prosaic tones even while describing the "divine connections" of gods and goddesses, mythology, and ominous portents and superstition that touch upon everyday life and politics in ancient Rome. Cameos of true historical figures shine with Vance's inflections. A.W. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2009]